A Sweet Slice of Cherry Pie

When it opens, it’s a barely-sweetened black cherry with a fizzy pop of crispness (reminds me of sparkling water) that gives away to a sweeter mix of cherries and almond. The almond starts to disappear, and then I get licorice peeking through with an occasional whiff of black tea. It is almost syrupy-sweet and is cherries, cherries, and more cherries. Even when the other notes come into play, they are always in the background, as the sweet scent of black cherry permeates from beginning to end. The vanilla note started to come through after a few hours, as did the rose (just barely).

On me, it was mostly a sweetened fruit and floral mix. I found it to be a fairly sweet scent but not syrupy-sweet or cloying, but on some, it might be that way. I think the fizzy quality helps lighten the scent in the beginning, and then the hints of licorice and black tea keep it from becoming too sweet as the perfume wears on. It lasted eight hours on me, and it wore fairly close to the skin. I could not compare it myself (as I don’t have it) but many have said this is a lighter version of Lolita Lempicka, so that may be of some help if you are familiar with that scent.

I am actually in love with the artwork surrounding the campaign, more so than with the fragrance itself (I tend to lean towards woody, resinous kind of fragrances, so it’s just not my personal preference). I could just see some of the imagery framed and hung near a vanity.

33 Comments

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thanks for reviewing this! i just smelled a sample on paper the other day and was wondering about it..i think i want to try it on my skin to see how it smells. i used to have lolita lempicka -maybe that’s why i’m drawn to it. also, it’s different from what i’ve been wearing these days. i usually wear viva la juicy or ed hardy villian which are different from this. maybe it is the cherries and almonds drawing me to it as something different. it sure helps the bottle is super pretty and girly!

Oh god. Your description reminded me so much of cough sirup! You know the ones that tastes like almondy cherries with a hint of licorice. Gross. I’m sure it doesn’t smell like that, though, lol.

The bottle is so pretty, but the comparison to Lolita Lempicka is enough for me to stay far, far away from this. Meeting someone on the street wearing LL can actually give me a migraine (followed by vomiting) 🙁 I’m extremely sensitive to that scent. I’m actually felling a bit sick just thinking of it.

The marketing for this perfume was spot on. However, the scent itself left something to desired for. It wasn’t all there and it was a bit too sweet for me. It’s so strange…Guerlain has these POWERHOUSE, iconic fragrances and then THIS. It seemed a bit displaced, but it was supposed to appeal to the younger, teenage demographic.

I love this scent, and I love the design, too! The cherries are definitely always there, I agree, but I feel like it’s never too sweet. Despite the sweetness, it’s still sophisticated, and it’s still Guerlain–perhaps just a bit more playful. I’m a bit disappointed, because if Sephora had kept their Friends & Family sale open, I would have purchased this. Unfortunately, since I was only able to participate in the VIB sale, Tom Ford’s Black Orchid took importance over this, since I’ve been wanting that one for longer!

If it helps, it will definitely also agree that it is reminiscent of Lolita Lempicka–if you like one, you’ll probably like the other!

Oh and it’s a shame you haven’t smelled LL. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea with the strong anise/licorice note, but I think it’s one of the more interesting (and when it originally came out unique) gourmand fragrances out there. Not to mention it’s been imitated several times (apparently by Guerlain now?) so it’s always neat to smell a scent that started a trend.

I don’t consider LL to be very floral at all so if that’s what’s holding you back don’t let it! It’s definitely in the oriental/gourmand category to me. I think how foody you perceive LL is going to depend on your relationship with anise and licorice. I think if you regularly consume those flavors then LL might seem more gourmand to you and if you don’t then I think you might consider it more oriental. I love the taste of licorice and anise so for me it reminds me more of edible flavors it might not for you. 🙂

The sweetness/gourmand-quality of this scent is what I don’t like (about La Petite Robe Noire) – not too much floral in it. Like TF’s Jardin Noirs were all too floral for me on the whole, some more/less tolerable – in the way that maybe I want something different or seemingly lighter, so I’ll wear a stronger floral scent. I’m not a big fan of licorice (as a food or scent), so my guess is LL won’t be my cup of tea. Not bad, but not for me, you know?

I always love to see perfumes reviewed here, personal and subjective as that subject may be. As for La Petite Robe Noire, hm. It wasn’t my cup of tea, though I’m a fan of many Guerlains. L. Lempicka isn’t my cup of tea either, but at least that one has some sort of identity. It’s something. The Guerlain, in contrast, seemed utterly bland and boring.(On me.) An utter nonentity and, in that sense, quite perplexing for a Guerlain. Plus, the sillage was extremely weak (on me). In general, I’m definitely not a fan of the current trend towards fruity or gourmandise scents. It’s one reason why I’ve shifted slightly into men’s colognes because there, the sweetness is offset by spice and woody notes. (D&G The One for Men & YSL’s La Nuit de L’Homme!! Wowzer.) Out of the perfumes you’ve recently reviewed, the one I’ve loved the most has been Coco Noir. That one I’m definitely going to get & has been the only recent (female) scent I’ve truly adored. Otherwise, I’m sticking to my Carons.

Slightly OT, in the century-old rivalry between Caron & Guerlain, it’s said Caron is for the wife or a duchess, and Guerlain is for the mistress or a cocotte. LOL. But this new Guerlain fizzy, sweet, fruity scent? Based on how it was on me, I think perhaps it’s for the daughter? LOL.

Caron? first time I hear of it…pretty sure it doesn´t exist in my country. Is it a French only label? As in only existing in France? I understand from your comment they have perfume. Do they also have makeup? Just curious. Lol wouldn´t call Guerlain a label for mistress…it´s one of the most well known high end labels world wide, I would say trumped Caron…since it is sold world wide anyway 🙂 .

You’ve mistaken my meaning. I was referring to the type and style of scents put out by both houses. According to the traditional characteristics and style of the house’s signature scents, one was more sensual and animalistic in perfume genre (so, in those days, for a mistress or flirt), while the other was more elegant and sophisticated (so, for the wife or duchess). Caron is an extremely old French perfume house, though not quite as old as Guerlain. The two houses are often compared among perfume addicts and they were, in fact, big rivals. Caron’s founder and “nose,” Daltroff, influenced a great many famous perfumes that followed, from Guerlain & Hermes to Chanel.

I was not referring to makeup. This is a perfume thread, after all, about Guerlain’s latest creation. My point concerned La Petite Robe Noire’s departure from the signature style of the perfume house as summed up in that famous quip. And I know about Guerlain’s reputation.

This perfume is included in sephora’s fragrance sampler for women. The price of the set is $50 so redeeming the voucher for this would be a steal given that you also receive other perfume samples and a mini bag I believe

My all-time favorite is Tom Ford Oud Wood. I could bathe in that all day, every day, and then spend the whole time smelling myself. I also like Tom Ford’s Amber Absolute.

I don’t have an extensive fragrance collection, and of course, the ones I’ve fallen hardest for are by TF. I by no means, since I have limited experience, think that there aren’t comparable (or better) scents by other brands – but hopefully it’ll give you a sense of the notes I dig!

I’m head over heels for the artwork around this campaign, too, (as well as the bottle, of course!), but I just couldn’t get on board with the fragrance. Your review is spot-on for this one, Christine! 🙂

Sephora sent me a couple samples of this, it’s weird I like it then I don’t. It’s like black cherry licorice, very weird scent on me.
I love Lolita & this kinda reminds me of that one too, except for the rosy cherry quality. I would be interested in a roll on maybe, even though the bottle is adorable!

Dear Christine,
I describe my experience with La petit robe noir.
I saw the bottle in Sephora and I sprayed on a piece on cardboard.
I felt in love with it and I decide to buy, i liked so much the cherry mixed with the black tea…(this perfume is not so sweet as it seems…).The problem was that I did not try on my skin…you say that last 8 hours..but in my case as soon I spray i can’t smell the scent..is like the scent disappear…I thought that LPRN could become the perfume of my life…but it is not so…i felt very disappointed becasue on the cardboard lasted days!…Ciao Stefania. ps. sorry for my english, it’s the first time that I write a comment.I like very much your blog!

I have samples that they SA gave me when I purchased my rouge automatique and I really like the scent! unique and lovely, a really interesting scent, I´m surpirsed I seem to be in the minority most comments, seem to be negative for this fragance.